Pihos Announces Re-election Bid for State Rep. of the New 48th Dist.

State Representative Sandra Pihos (R-Glen Ellyn) today announced her candidacy for re-election as State Representative of the newly-drawn 48th House District.  

“Once every ten years following the release of U.S. Census data, state and federal legislative boundary lines are re-drawn and re-numbered. While I am very proud to represent the citizens of the current 42nd district and will continue to do so until January 2013, today I am announcing my plans to run for State Representative of the new 48th House District,” said Pihos. 

Pihos is currently serving her fifth term as State Representative of the 42nd district which includes most of Glen Ellyn and portions of Lombard, Downers Grove, Oak Brook Terrace, Oakbrook, Villa Park, Glendale Heights, Wheaton and Lisle.   Under the remap, the district shifts to the west dropping Oakbrook, Oak Brook Terrace, Villa Park and Glendale Heights and includes more of Lombard, Wheaton, and Lisle.

As a full time legislator, Representative Pihos serves on a variety of standing committees including Elementary and Secondary Education, Elementary and Secondary Appropriations, Disability Services (Republican Spokesperson), Aging (Republican Spokesperson), and Consumer Protection. Some of the special committees she has been appointed to are the Legislative Audit Commission, the Charter Schools Sub-committee, the Special Education Funding Task Force, the College Illinois Recovery Task Force, The Task Force on Emergency Medical Service Funding and the Workforce Development Board. Much of her legislation has focused on education, social security protection, identity theft, affordable housing, health awareness, senior issues, children's health insurance and environmental issues.

“Working in a bi-partisan manner, the Illinois General Assembly had a very successful spring.  We passed landmark education reforms that will greatly improve schools across Illinois and the most fiscally responsible state budget in a decade,” said Pihos. “As a member of the Elementary and Secondary Appropriations Committee, we spent countless hours reviewing the budget line by line – making responsible cuts to get our state budget back on track while protecting needed funds for our classrooms.  We must continue to demonstrate this kind of fiscal discipline year after year to get our state budget crisis under control.”

Representative Pihos was recognized as Woman of the Year by The United Hellenic Voters. She has also been given the Legislator of the Year Award, by several organizations including the Illinois Optometric Association, the Illinois School Counselor Association, the Illinois Association of School Administrators, the DuPage Housing Action Coalition, the Ray Graham Association, the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association and the Illinois Association of School Social Workers. She has received the Guardian of Small Business Award, the Partners in Quality Award for her dedication to the advancement of quality in older adult services, the DuPage Center for Independent Living Spirit of ADA award, the Illinois Farm Bureau Activator award, the American Cancer Society Regional Advocacy Partner Award and the Illinois Environmental Council Award.

She is the immediate past co-chair of the Conference of Women Legislators and is the Illinois State Director of Women in Government.  Rep. Pihos serves on several boards including Giant Steps Illinois, Partnership for Educational Progress Foundation, Family Shelter Service, DuPage Regional Leadership Council of the American Cancer Society, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). 

Rep. Pihos has been a resident of Glen Ellyn for 38 years, taught both elementary and middle school before becoming a high school guidance counselor, followed by serving as President of the Glenbard District 87 school board.  She held the position of vice president of Pihos Enterprises, a small restaurant management firm, from 1993-2000. 

“In addition to my work in Springfield, I am very committed to working with the public. Helping local families, business, and governmental bodies work through problems relating to state government continues to be a priority,” said Pihos. “The best thing about the opportunity to serve is the direct constituent services my office is able to provide along with public forums to gather input on many important issues before me in the General Assembly. I am also extremely pleased to host events such as my Job Fair to match employers and potential employees, as well as my Senior Fair and Women’s Fair where actual on-site services and information is provided.” 

“It is an honor to serve as State Representative.  It is a position that I don’t take lightly and I would very much like to continue to serve in this capacity,” Pihos concluded.